Muscular Dystrophy - Holistic and Alternative Medicine Solutions

Muscular Dystrophy

Describing over 30 genetic diseases characterized by progressive weakness and skeletal muscle degeneration, muscular dystrophy (MD) can occur in infancy, childhood or adulthood. The disorders differ in terms of the distribution and extent of muscle weakness, age of onset, rate of progression and pattern of inheritance.

Signs and Symptoms

Signs and symptoms vary according to the type of muscular dystrophy. Typical symptoms include:

Muscle weakness
Lack of coordination
Progressive crippling
Involuntary muscle contractions
Loss of mobility

Many specific signs and symptoms vary from among the different forms of MD. Each type is different in the age of onset, what parts of the body the symptoms primarily affect and how rapidly the disease progresses. For example, signs and symptoms unique to Duchenne MD may include:

Frequent falls
Large calf muscles
Difficulty getting up from a lying or sitting position
Weakness in lower leg muscles, resulting in difficulty with running and jumping
Waddling gait
Mild mental retardation (in some cases)

Treatment

There is no specific treatment to stop or reverse any form of MD. Treatment plans are designed to help prevent or reduce deformities in the joints and spine and to allow people with MD to remain mobile as long as possible. While not curative, a host of alternative treatments are often turned to for periodic, symptomatic relief for muscular dystrophy.

Holistic and alternative medicine therapies can help with MD.

The links below will take you to that therapy page, where you can view our practitioners directory for that therapy, and use our "instant info" to email a question to the relevant practitioners.

Massage therapy has been reported to ease a wide range of MD’s symptoms including:

lieving muscle pain
Relaxing tight or contracted muscles
Increasing circulation in a deprived area
Restoring some range of motion

Since the goal of all bodywork is analogous to its application for muscular dystrophy, it almost appears massage is designed specifically for MD’s symptoms. While never intended to replace or supersede a physician’s advice, adding regular massage therapy sessions to a MD management plan can help reduce spasms, ease chronically tightened muscles, and improve the person’s quality of life.

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